Guangzhou would launch a campaign targeting robbery until October, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported Wednesday.

Criminal cases in Guangzhou dropped by 5.4 percent while robbery cases increased by 21.7 percent in the first seven months this year, compared with the same period last year.

City authorities said the campaign was aimed to make residents feel safer.

Statistics showed that most of the robbery cases were committed by migrants. In 2003, robbery cases committed by migrants accounted for 83.8 percent of the total. The ratio increased to 87.5 percent in 2004 and 88.2 percent in the first six months this year.

The public security department would establish check spots in the city's 13 main exits and entrances to check passing vehicles and people. Uniformed and plainclothed police would also patrol.

Every district was also required to establish special taskforces to deal with robbery cases.

Traffic police would strength their efforts in checking illegal motorcycles, a common tool used to rob pedestrians.

Traffic police have already seized 350,000 motorcycles since August last year.

The municipal public security bureau would organize at least three large-scale actions against robbery. The district-level bureaus were also required to organize similar actions.

Procuratorate departments were required to quicken their steps in dealing with robbery cases.

City authorities said they would also pay special attention to burglars and pickpockets during the campaign.

Zengcheng police seized 13 alleged members of a gang of thieves on a bus on Guangyuan Road on Tuesday morning.

Police on patrol found a suspicious van following a bus closely at 6:15 AM. They also thought some passengers had strange expressions on their faces.

A few minutes later, two men jumped off the bus and got into the van. The van then drove away from the bus. Police soon stopped the van and the bus for investigation. Many passengers on the bus told police they were robbed by a gang. Police then detained 13 suspects. Investigation was continuing.

(Shenzhen Daily August 4, 2005)